Plattsburgh HS Boys Fall in Regional Final

Press Republican
By RYAN HAYNER
Staff Writer

Potsdam 62, Plattsburgh High 38

TROY - For the second straight game, the Hornets trailed by nine with five minutes left in the third quarter.
On Friday, Plattsburgh High stopped a run and rallied to beat Fonda-Fultonville.
But the Hornets' magic ran out Saturday.

Potsdam scored seven unanswered points to go ahead by nine and didn't stop, finishing out the third quarter on a 10-5 run to lead by 13.
The Sandstoners' offensive onslaught continued in the fourth quarter, when they led by as many as 26 and cruised to a 62-38 win in the NYSPHSAA Class B regional final Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College.

Potsdam (21-2) advances to the Final Four for the first time since 2003, when it lost to Cooperstown in the Class C tournament. The Sandstoners will play Section IX's Burke Catholic Friday at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

"The magical run wasn't there like it was (Friday)," PHS coach Chris Hartmann said. "You have to credit Potsdam." Four players scored in double digits for the Sandstoners, led by Zach Adam's 19 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. Josh Adams added 14 points, Scott Bartenstein had 13 points and seven assists and John Coleman scored 10.

"We always want to get back here," Potsdam coach Steve Kmack said. "I don't have a lot of time left; I'm one of the old guys.
Against the Braves Friday, the Hornets (18-5) trailed by five at the half but outscored their opponent 39-31 in the second half.

Plattsburgh High trailed by four at the half Saturday, but it was Potsdam's offense that had the big second — aided by a stout defense.
The Sandstoners outscored the Hornets, 37-17, after halftime. Potsdam, using a well-run motion offense, shot 70.8 percent from the field in the second half. The Hornets made just 6-of-25.

Josh Adams opened the fourth quarter with a putback, keying a 10-0 run until Kyle Knight ended the Hornets' futility with a free throw. Potsdam scored six straight after that, with John Coleman's layup pushing the advantage to 26 points.
"I didn't think we had the legs tonight," Hartmann said. "After such an emotional win last night where we gave it everything we had, we just ran out of gas."

The Hornets, usually efficient from the free throw line, went just 9-for-19, and Hartmann used that as an example of how fatigue hurt his team.
"We're a team all year long that hit our foul shots as we did (Friday). And when you miss as many foul shots as we did tonight, that's a clear sign you just don't have it in your legs," Hartmann said.

Plattsburgh High connected on two consecutive shots early in the third quarter to pull within two. The Sandstoners, as the Braves had done Friday, went up by nine three minutes into the third quarter.
Instead of going on a run of their own, the Hornets turned the ball over and went 1-for-4 from the charity stripe as Potsdam extended its lead to 14.
Plattsburgh High scored just seven points in the fourth quarter.

"When we (nearly) tied it up, I thought the kids were really going to dig in and get over that fatigue level, and that's what we talked about — you make a run, you forget about your legs and you just play," Hartmann said. "But the run wasn't there." Knight was the only Plattsburgh High player to finish in double figures with 10. The senior also added four rebounds. Tre Bucci scored nine points.

The Sandstoners took advantage of the Hornets' lack of size, especially in the first half. Nine of Potsdam's 12 field goals before halftime came from the post. The Hornets kept it close by hitting three 3-pointers, their only triples of the game.
"I think we had a great season," Hartmann said. "We represented Section VII well. We wrote a new chapter in the long-standing tradition of Plattsburgh basketball and we got nothing to hang our heads about.
"We just came up short tonight and needed a little bit more energy to beat a team like Potsdam."

Everything up to this point for the West Genesee ice hockey team has been quite familiar to the players that have been there the last three seasons. Each of those times, a regular-season league title has been followed by a Section III championship and a regional crown. All that's been missing is a state championship.

Now the Wildcats have that chance, again, thanks to Saturday night's 3-1 victory over Potsdam in the regional title game that featured a rare deficit quickly overcome by well-timed bursts of offense.

Playing one more time on the friendly home ice of Shove Park in Camillus, WG moved to 23-0, stayed atop the state rankings and secured a bid in next weekend's state "Frozen Four", to be played again at Utica Memorial Auditorium. True, it wasn't the shutout Wildcat fans have grown to anticipate (WG has blanked 14 different foes this season). But it was good enough, even if the start was a bit dicey. Potsdam silenced any notion of a shutout when Seth Adams deflected a slap shot from Greg Burkum past WG goaltender Anthony Militello, silencing the standing-room only crowd and giving the Sandstoners a 1-0 lead.

Late in the first period, WG still was behind, despite once again controlling the flow of play and spending large amounts of time in the opponent's end

Any hockey coach or player will say that a goal near the end of a period will have the biggest emotional impact. And WG got it when, 53 seconds before intermission, Zach Lewis took a wrist shot that Potsdam goalie Evan Drummatter stopped - but the rebound came right to Adam King, who fired the puck into the net to tie it 1-1.

Despite this jolt, WG could not immediately capitalize in the second periods, the two sides turning cautious as the Sandstoners hung in there. Then, in a 22-second burst of magic midway through the period, the Wildcats punched its ticket to Utica.

It began when Potsdam got called for hooking. Just 15 seconds into the power play, King scored a second time to give his team a 2-1 lead, again the feeds coming from linemates Lewis and Erich Haney as King moved around a defender, then beat Drummatter. Before the crowd could even settle down, they were roaring again when, off the ensuing face-off, WG attacked again - and Haney, getting a pass from Lewis, beat Drummater to build the margin to two.

And it would remain there the rest of the way. Drummartter stopped every shot he faced in the third period on the way to 36 saves, 22 more than what Militello had to worry about. As usual, the Wildcats' defense proved difficult to penetrate, despite that initial Potsdam mark. Ryan Michel, Tim Bubnack, Cody Ryan, Robbie Michel and R.J. Tinklepaugh led the Wildcats' back line in another first-rate effort.

On Saturday at 12:30, WG will face Suffern (21-1) in the state semifinal at Utica Auditorium. The winner will face Saratoga Springs or Pittsford in the championship game 24 hours later. The Wildcats are after its first state championship since 2001 – and for atonement after two trips to Utica in the last two years ended in defeat.

POTSDAM - Massena had already lost to Potsdam twice during the regular season. The Red Raiders were dealing with a key player out because of injury and trailing by nine points at halftime Friday.

It looked like a tall order for the Red Raiders to repeat as overall Section 10 champions Friday night at SUNY Potsdam's Maxcy Hall.

But Massena indeed elevated its game after intermission, and captured another title, 49-43 over Potsdam. The Red Raiders took their first lead of the night on a Trevor Bacon put-back with 2 minutes, 21 seconds left in regulation. Massena never trailed again as it completed a 15-2 run over the final 5:48 of play.

Massena knew if it stayed with Potsdam it had a shot at the championship.

"Our whole theme over the last few days was we've got to believe we can win," said Massena coach Tom Miller. "We were a little short handed with Brady (Condlin) out, but everyone else stepped up.

"My kids stayed around long enough, we stayed close enough to give ourselves a chance. In the fourth quarter we got some buckets, got a little momentum and we rode that momentum.

" Trevor Bacon finished with game highs in both points with 15 and rebounds with 11. "When we finally got the lead, it certainly gave us a lot of confidence," Bacon said. "With Brady out, everybody stepped up on the boards and I give all the credit to our defense. This means a lot to us, defending our title."

"Potsdam is a great team, they're extremely well coached and I have a feeling they will win the state title. I know this is a tough loss for them," said Miller, who also received 15 points and seven rebounds from Taylor Elsner, and seven points and nine assists from J.P. Dumas.

For Potsdam, which led 27-18 at halftime but was outscored 31-16 after intermission, Scott Bartenstein hit a pair of 3-pointers in scoring 14 points. John Coleman tallied 12 points, five rebounds and three assists. Zach Adams contributed eight points and nine rebounds.

(Courtesy Courier-Observer)

Courtesy North Country Sportsnet

Potsdam Outlasts Massena in 3OT for DI Title

By JOHN TURCOTTE

C-O SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010

POTSDAM - Despite creating great scoring opportunities throughout the second and third periods, the Potsdam Central hockey team found itself down 1-0 to Massena with under two minutes to play in regulation in the Division I sectional championship game on Monday night at Cheel Arena.

But Sandstoner defenseman Ryan Merriman finally solved Raider goalie Nathan Lint with a 90-foot wrister from just across center ice with 1:41 left in regulation, his eightth goal of the season. Potsdam then went on to claim a 2-1 victory at the 2:25 mark of the third overtime as Taylor Hazen took a pass from Seth Adams from behind the net and buried the gamewinner, denying the Raiders a third straight sectional title. Greg Burkum started the play by getting the puck deep into the Massena zone as Hazen tallied his 7th of the season.

“We came out hard in the third overtime. We worked hard all week in getting ready for this game and came in with a lot of confidence tonight,” said Hazen. “We shook the jitters off after the first period and played really great the rest of the game. The guys had no quit in them,” said Potsdam coach Al Benda whose goalie Evan Drummatter was also outstanding in finishing with 27 stops. “I told the guys that they better go down and hug the guy at the end of the ice. He kept us in the game,” said coach Benda after Potsdam won its first section title since 2006.

Potsdam (14-7-1) will be at undefeated Section 3 champion West Genesee, the top-ranked team in the state, this Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Division I state tournament. “We have nothing to lose, they're the best in the state, we're looking forward to the challenge,” said coach Benda whose team fell 5-1 at West Genesee during the regular season.

Massena (10-9-2), coming off a 16-day layoff since its last game, opened the scoring at 13:40 of the first period when Nate McDonald set up Cullen Baines who tucked the puck in behind Drummatter. Nick Mofitt also picked up an assist on the goal. Lint finished with 37 saves in an outstanding showing for the Raiders. “I can't say enough about our effort. They competed the entire game. Lint stood tall for us in goal and the game could have gone either way,” said Raider coach Mike Trimboli. “We achieved a lot more this year then people thought we would. My heart goes out to our seniors.”

(Courtesy Courier-Observer)

Courtesy North Country Sportsnet

Sandstoners Mature Into Class B Champions

By DAVE SHEA
STAFF SPORTSWRITER
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010

POTSDAM - Five years ago, Potsdam Central Basketball Coach Steve Kmack saw a world of potential in a group of Junior High players.

"When I returned to coaching I saw this group and thought we could win a championship in five years. And five years later they did it," said coach Kmack after his Sandstoner squad, starting three juniors and a sophomore, rode a second half surge past OFA 69-41 on Saturday to end a heralded string of seven straight Section 10 Class B Championships.

OFA's string ended before a full house at Maxcy Hall's Jerry Welsh Gymnasium after Chateaugay recorded its fifth straight Class D title and Brushton-Moira won its fourth Class C title in five years

. "I have experienced a lot of championships and I am just so happy that this group could experience a sectional championship this year. This year it was just a matter of getting stronger and maturing," Kmack noted.

After adding the sectional title to an NAC Central League crown, the 19-1 and number eight state-ranked Stoners earned the right to meet Brushton-Moira in the semi-finals of Section 10 Round of Champions on Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. and enter the state tournament in the regional finals on March 13 at Hudson Valley Community College.

"They key for us was to keep playing hard all of the time, look to get a couple of steals and stay in rhythm on offense," said Coleman, who was praised as "a great two-way basketball player" by his coach after the game.

The Stoners opened a 32-22 halftime lead and then took off from a 40-28 lead when Bartenstein buried a three-pointer and Bouyer drew two quick fouls. The Stoners capitalized with a transition filled 17-2 run to gain a 57-30 lead after three quarters.

"A 10-point halftime lead meant nothing so we were looking for a chance to expand it. And we got it. We pressed, got some steals and just took off," said coach Kmack after the contest which ended Bouyer's career which ranks among the best in area high school hoops history. Fellow senior starter Jake Rishe also bowed out.

"I am not going to miss trying to defend Gene (Bouyer) but I am going to miss competing against him. He is the best basketball player that I have seen in this area," Kmack added.

Whispell and Bartenstein combined for eight and seven points in the third quarter pull-away and both went 3-4 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Bouyer used a series of outrageously athletic finishes around the goal to score 17 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Devils, who were limited to 15-50 shooting. Owen Luckie followed with eight points and Jarred Morrow scored five points with five rebounds. Dave Crowder tallied four points, Jake Rishe and freshman Cavan LaRose added two and Tyler Knowlton netted his first varsity point.

"We definitely had some highlights this season but we struggled with our consistency. We will have to work hard on that next year," said OFA Coach Bill Merna of his 15-5 Devils who were ranked 20th in this week's state poll.

"When we beat Potsdam at home we were able to limit their good looks. Tonight we couldn't. They can do very well in the states."

(Courtesy Courier-Observer)

Potsdam High School Student Named 2009 Ken Cring Award Winner

Tess Curry, a Potsdam High School Senior was selected by her coach and officials of the Northern New York Soccer Official Association (NNYSOA) as a candidate for the 2009 Ken Cring Award and was named this year’s recipient. The award was set up by the NNYSOA to award a female athlete who best represents Section 10 soccer in the eyes of their peers. She was chosen out of all twenty-three schools for her leadership, ability and sportsmanship.

Potsdam Sandstoners v St. Lawrence Central Larries at Home 49-0W

Weather may not have been on the side of the Potsdam Sandstoners' Boys Varsity Football Team but that did not stop them from winning 49-0 against the St. Lawrence Central Larries. This was the Homecoming and last home game for the Sandstoner boys. As is tradition the senior class members of the football team and cheerleading squad were honored before the game. The varsity boys have nine seniors on the team and the cheerleaders have two seniors.
The 1st Quarter started with a continuous rain. It did not slow Jesse Bradish (45) down as he crossed the goal line with 7:44 left in the quarter and then also crossed it again for the 2 point conversion. Sandstoner defense forced the Larries to punt. Zac Linsky (40) found the goal line with 3:49 left in the 1st Quarter for another 6 points. Sandstoners' 2 point conversion attempt was stopped by the Larries defense. With a 14-0 lead and the quarter almost over, Chris Burkett (69) a defensive lineman scooped up a fumble and ran in for 6 points with 32 seconds remaining on the clock in the 1st Quarter. Zac Linsky (40) carried the ball for a 2 point conversion ending the quarter with Potsdam leading 22-0.

The 2nd Quarter saw a struggling Larries team trying to get the offense going. Potsdam wasted no time crossing the goal line again with Ryan Lashomb (24) running for 6 points with 7:50 remaining. The 2 point conversion was made on a pass from John Coleman (11) to Shane McHenry(7). The score 30-0 for Potsdam. The Sandstoners went on to score again with 1:51 remaining in the half when Quarterback John Coleman (11) ran for 6 points. He also ran for the conversion but it was called back on a penalty. The Sandstoners did convert on a pass from John Coleman (11) to Shane McHenry (7) for 2 points. The Larries mounted an offensive drive but were stopped when Greg Burkum (66) intercepted a pass from Larries Quarterback Rylan Patraw (10). The half ended with Potsdam leading 38-0

The 4th Quarter was a defensive battle with the Larries trying hard to put points on the board. Potsdam scored again with 4:50 left in the game on a Shane McHenry (7) Field Goal brings the score to 49-0 Potsdam. The Larries did move the ball down the field on their next possession but they were stopped again when Kris Weems (12) recovered his second fumble of the game with 1:12 left in regulation time. Quarterback John Coleman (11) took a knee for the next two plays and the game ended with Potsdam Sandstoners' 49 - St. Lawrence Central Larries 0.

The Potsdam Sandstoners started the game in an aggressive fashion captializing on a Massena fumble to score with 2:56 left in the 1st Quarter. John Coleman (11) made the TD and the 2 point conversion afterwards. The score was 8-0 for Potsdam.

It was not until the 2nd Quarter that the Massena Red Raiders were able to score. Taylor Elsner (7) scored a TD with 10:22 remaining in the 2nd Quarter and completed a pass to Evan Raymo (8) for a 2 point conversion. The score at halftime was 8-8.

Spectators got a special treat during halftime from the Potsdam Youth Flag Football Program. The youngster rand several plays to show off their skills. It was quite an impressive site watching the kids enjoying the big time on the field.

The 3rd Quarter was a defensive matchup with only one score. Massena's Taylor Elsner (7) kick a FG with 5:04 left in the 3rd. Quarter. The score was 11-8 at the end of 3 quarters of play.

The 4th Quarter saw a fired up Massena Offense as Taylor Elsner (7) ran for a TD and then kicked the extra point. (18-8) Potsdam got a break with 7:14 remaining when Ryan Lashomb (24) recovered a fumble. Potsdam was not able to capitalize on the recovery as the Raider defense dug in. With 4:16 left in the game, Evan raymo (12) took it in for the final Td of the game. With a successful extra point kick by Taylor Elsner the final score was Massena 25 and Potsdam 8.

Potsdam Sandstoners Over Tupper Lake's Lumber Jacks 42-16

In the first home game of the 2009 season, the Potsdam High School Sandstoners routed the Tupper Lake Lumber Jacks 42-16. With 5:33 left in the 1st Quarter, Jesse Bradish (45) scored the first TD. Quarterback John Coleman (11) then kept the ball and ran for a 2 point conversion making the score 8-0. During the next drive Jesse Bradish (45) stopped the Lumber Jacks with an interception. It did not take long for John Coleman (11) on a Quarterback keeper to run for a TD with 3:10 left in the 1st Quarter. A Coleman (11) to McHenry (7) pass fell incomplete in the corner of the end zone denying Potsdam the 2 point conversion. The score at the end of the 1st Quarter was 14-0.

Thw Lumber Jacks wasted no time in the 2nd Quarter with Zach Meade (7) their Quarterback running for a TD. The Lumber Jacks were not able to convert on a 2 point attempt. Potsdam Sandstoners came right back with John Coleman running for his second TD. Potsdam also ran for the 2 point conversion. The next time Potsdam got the ball, Shane McHenry (7) ran for a TD with 5:41 left in the half. The Sandstoners again ran for a 2 point conversion. With a little less than 3 minutes in the half, Greg Burkum (66) intercepted the ball, giving Potsdam another possession before the half. Coach Kirka used his 3 time outs to mount a drive into the Lumber Jacks territory. Potsdam's attempt was stopped when Zach Meade (7) intercepted a Coleman pass with 1:37 to go in the half. At the end of the half the score was 28-8 Potsdam.

The 3rd Quarter started with a Sandstoner drive deep into Lumber Jack territory. Shane McHenry (7) ran the ball for a TD. The 2 point conversion was stopped with a fumble. Late in the 3rd Quarter Ryan Lashomb scored a TD and also ran for a 2 point conversion. The quarter ended with Potsdam 42 - Tupper Lake 8.

The 4th Quarter saw Tupper Lake mount several drives but they were only able to convert on one. Late in the quarter Zach Meade (7) hit Hunter Chase (34) in the end zone for a TD. Repeating the same route he hit Matt Dechene (3) for the 2 point conversion. The final score Potsdam Sandstoners 42 - Tupper Lake Lumber Jacks 16.

The Potsdam Girls Varsity Soccer Team win the Jeffers Tournament in a 3-1 win over the Norwood-Norfolk Flyers. The team made it to the Championship Game by winning over Colton-Pierrepont 4-0 in the opening game of the tournament.

Gavin Dominy and Cole Hennessy each scored a pair of goals to help power the Colts to the consolation victory of the John Jeffers Tournament in Potsdam. Jake Regan and James Reichart supplied two assists apiece for Colton-Pierrepont. The Sandstoners fell 5-0. (Watertown Times) Potsdam had played Lisbon to a 2-2 tie in the opening game of the Jeffers Tournament. Lisbon led the game 1-0 at halftime. Potsdam tied the score on a Peter McAdoo drive from T.J. Rimmer 21 minutes into the second half. Lisbon regained the lead 10 minutes later. With 1.49 left in regulation time on a Rishe Thakur penalty kick Potsdam tied the game. That set up a shoot out which Potsdam lost 2-1.